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Short on troops, Australia opens military to non-citizens 

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  • Short on troops, Australia opens military to non-citizens 
  • June 4, 2024
  • Article Body Text Sydney, Australia — <p>Australia will allow non-citizens to join its armed forces, the government said Tuesday, as the sparsely populated nation struggles to meet recruitment targets.</p> <p>Defense Minister Richard Marles said that from July, looser eligibility criteria would allow &quot;permanent residents who have been living in Australia for 12 months&quot; to serve.</p> <p>Citizens from Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States are being favored, he added.</p> <p>Australia has a coastline that would stretch one-and-a-bit times around the Earth, but a population of just 26 million.</p> <p>Canberra has surged defense spending in recent years, buying fleets of submarines, jets and scores of fighting vehicles to meet mounting regional tensions.</p> <p>But it has struggled to find enough pilots, mariners and troops to operate and maintain them.</p> <p>Experts warn too few Australians don a uniform to meet even current requirements, much less a beefier military of tomorrow.</p> <p>The Australian Defense Forces can today count on about 90,000 personnel, including reserves, according to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.</p> <p>China's military, by contrast, has an estimated two million personnel.</p> <p>Marles said growing the Australian Defense Force was &quot;essential to meet the nation's security challenges through the next decade and beyond.&quot;</p>
  • Content Type Text
  • Language English
  • NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
  • Subtitles / Dubbing Available No
  • Network VOA
  • Embargo Date June 4, 2024 07:25 EDT
  • Byline Agence France-Presse
  • Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English
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